Ask HN: Laid off after 2 months. What exactly should I be doing?
I found a job after a long job search. I cancelled my other job offer, spent all my savings ($2k on rent, flight, AirBnB, etc), and moved across the country to work here in a sort of suburban city with no way to get around. I was planning on saving up money and building up my life here.
After 2 months, I was laid off. I have no car, no insurance, practically no money, etc. It costs $50 round trip just to Uber into downtown, so I end up holed in my apartment. Not to mention the cost to go to meetups and on-site interviews (yeah, no one has once offered to pay). I've been searching for about 4 months. I've made it to several on-sites, but never got an offer and don't know exactly what I'm doing wrong. Like one company would say I passed, then ghost me after the on-site, or they said I did good then decided to go with an internal candidate.
I signed a year long lease. It will cost $7k to break. If I somehow get a job offer from another state, what kind of company will even help with that? Like I said, I have trouble even getting companies to pay for interviews.
Regarding my health. I'm totally depressed and have developed heart problems. It's impossible to function doing anything. I also tried my best when I was working, and would even try to code all night and on weekends. Now I have to see all my energy go to waste and have to restart from step 1 again.
What would you do if you were in my shoes?
31 comments
[ 4.7 ms ] story [ 74.4 ms ] threadAlso, I would take any job, even a non technical one, just to stay busy and to try to keep the bills paid and to stay in a regular rhythm.
For your medical / mental issues you should most likely simply consult a professional, no internet advise will help you there in ways that move the needle and/or are positive.
best of luck!
edit: And if you have family don't hesitate to call on them. I did so in hard up times and my kids do it with me and that's how it should be, it can take a while to find your bearings and that is one reason why family members should support each other. Of course if you don't have much family or they are in no position to help then you can safely ignore this.
But once I was in situation where I had to move but had a lease. I talked with my apartment complex's office. They told me I can give 30 days notice to move out and then they will start showing my apartment immediately. I ll have to continue to pay rent until someone moves in. I paid one month's rent but then someone moved in within a week and they issued me partial refund for that month.
So this might be an option.
Get help for your depression right away. It might be coming across unconsciously in your interviews.
Good luck! You can do it. You’re in a better situation than a huge percentage of the world. Think positive.
Like others have said, find any job, contact family and explain situation, etc.
If I absolutely had no other option, I would join the air force. Worst part is the minimum four year commitment. A few of my friends have done so. You can be an equipment technician in a hospital, see the world, and not deal with any violence.
Now he gives talks in local Chinese and Indian conferences shillings consultancy for companies.
He meets a lot of Chinese and Indians and now he has saved a lot of money to retire even by American standards.
One thing we don't recognize is that we might be more valualed in a country where we weren't born.
You are failing in America doesn't mean you'll fail in Thailand, India, China where my friends just because they are white get paid thousands of dollars for smiling for photops
There are many businesses in East who don't know anything about the US but still have software products which can potentially undercut western products on prices, if you show them the way to enter western market - you too can charge a premium for this.
That's not quite true. Asians often think highly of Westerners for some reasons.
Courage and good luck.
2. Do something useful in your spare time. Like get a job at a fast food joint so you can pay your bills.
Regardless of the amount on your first paycheck, 7K should be your goal to cover rent FOR THE YEAR. 7k to break your lease, and uncertain employment, measures that you are living well beyond your means.
you cannot afford your place. Live like a student until you can manage your expenses.
Also immediately file for unemployment.
The first step is to stop haemorrhaging cash. Check your local renting laws. If it allows you to stay for a few months before the law kick you out, then stop paying rent.
Take a side job (preferably night job) to make some cash to survive. Keep looking for a job. If you don't find and your rental kick out is approaching then rent a room.
And forget about Uber. Pretty sure there is some public transport bus that goes your way. (not necessarily your way but will connect you through). How do you think the majority of people are doing?
Hit me up on shail.narayan@gmail.com
Also look for a roommate, to decrease your fixed costs without breaking the lease. This could give you some ideas too: https://andrewhy.de/how-to-live-comfortably-on-36-a-month-fo...
Buy a second hand bicycle, and ditch uber... and, as soon as you can afford, go see a doctor !
Personally I think you need financial guidance more than anything else. I don't think you're in tune with your reality.
I'm sorry your situation turned out poorly but it is far from grim. You have the power and ability to fix it. Do you have the motivation as well?
As has been said before: if you have family and are on good terms, don't wait any longer to ask for help. Everyone gets into shitty situations due to no fault of their own at one time or another, makes mistakes and needs to start over. That's one thing families are for: a safety net, a safe place. If you have none, get in touch with your closest friends. If you have none (like zero), search for a local depression self-help group and go to a meeting. People there will understand what you're going through and attempt to help you in getting your affairs in order. Seriously. It sounds unappealing, I know, but it works if you have no one else.
Also, get a used bike. Get used do riding it for extended periods of time. You have time, not money, remember. Plus, you'll get exercise this way, which is something that helps keep depression at bay. I realize that American suburbs are not the ideal place to get around in one but it can be done. If you're completely opposed to this, Google for ride-sharing or carpooling offers in your area.
After that, with the help of family, friends or empathetic people, either move back home, to a much smaller apartment, or join someone as their roommate. If you're truly paralyzed by depression, try to get a job (for the time being) that just requires simple tasks of you, showing up and doing easy work, like a local shop clerk, that's closest to your apartment. Avoid fast food jobs, they are soul-crushing. Adjust your living conditions to a student level.
If you can, try to volunteer for an open source project. It does not generate money but you get to interact with people, learn new things, success may lift your spirits and you have actual public work to refer to when applying for a coding job later.
You might want to get in touch with career office of the school where you got your CS degree as they may have resources that are useful.
Identify the technology that is most in line with your interests and the jobs to which you are applying and become proficient or an expert in it, preferably making something along the way that can be shown, demonstrated, or discussed.
I already have several projects in Vue. No one asks about them during interviews.